the essays of montaigne, v15-第11章
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In short； 'tis all swine's flesh； varied by sauces； as Flaminius' host
said。 Cupid is a roguish god； who makes it his sport to contend with
devotion and justice： 'tis his glory that his power mates all powers； and
that all other rules give place to his：
〃Materiam culpae prosequiturque suae。〃
＇〃And seeks out a matter （motive） for his crimes。〃
Ovid； Trist。； iv。 I。 34。＇
As to the second point； should we not be less cuckolds； if we less feared
to be so？ according to the humour of women whom interdiction incites； and
who are more eager； being forbidden：
〃Ubi velis； nolunt； ubi nolis； volunt ultro；
Concessa pudet ire via。〃
＇〃Where thou wilt； they won't； where thou wilt not； they
spontaneously agree； they are ashamed to go in the permitted path。〃
Terence； Eunuchus； act iv。； sc。 8； v 43＇
What better interpretation can we make of Messalina's behaviour？ She；
at first； made her husband a cuckold in private； as is the common use；
but； bringing her business about with too much ease； by reason of her
husband's stupidity； she soon scorned that way； and presently fell to
making open love； to own her lovers； and to favour and entertain them in
the sight of all： she would make him know and see how she used him。 This
animal； not to be roused with all this； and rendering her pleasures dull
and flat by his too stupid facility； by which he seemed to authorise and
make them lawful； what does she？ Being the wife of a living and
healthful emperor； and at Rome； the theatre of the world； in the face of
the sun； and with solemn ceremony； and to Silius； who had long before
enjoyed her； she publicly marries herself one day that her husband was
gone out of the city。 Does it not seem as if she was going to become
chaste by her husband's negligence？ or that she sought another husband
who might sharpen her appetite by his jealousy； and who by watching
should incite her？ But the first difficulty she met with was also the
last： this beast suddenly roused these sleepy； sluggish sort of men are
often the most dangerous： I have found by experience that this extreme
toleration； when it comes to dissolve； produces the most severe revenge；
for taking fire on a sudden； anger and fury being combined in one；
discharge their utmost force at the first onset；
〃Irarumque omnes effundit habenas：〃
＇〃He let loose his whole fury。〃AEneid； xii。 499。＇
he put her to death； and with her a great number of those with whom she
had intelligence； and even one of them who could not help it； and whom
she had caused to be forced to her bed with scourges。
What Virgil says of Venus and Vulcan； Lucretius had better expressed of a
stolen enjoyment betwixt her and Mars：
〃Belli fera moenera Mavors
Armipotens regit； ingremium qui saepe tuum se
Rejictt； aeterno devinctus vulnere amoris
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Pascit amore avidos inhians in te； Dea； visus；
Eque tuo pendet resupini spiritus ore
Hunc tu； Diva； tuo recubantem corpore sancto
Circumfusa super； suaveis ex ore loquelas
Funde。〃
＇〃Mars； the god of wars； who controls the cruel tasks of war； often
reclines on thy bosom； and greedily drinks love at both his eyes；
vanquished by the eternal wound of love： and his breath； as he
reclines； hangs on thy lips； bending thy head over him as he lies
upon thy sacred person； pour forth sweet and persuasive words。〃
Lucretius； i。 23。＇
When I consider this rejicit； fiascit； inhians； ynolli； fovet； medullas；
labefacta； pendet； percurrit； and that noble circumfusa； mother of the
pretty infuses； I disdain those little quibbles and verbal allusions that
have since sprung up。 Those worthy people stood in need of no subtlety
to disguise their meaning； their language is downright； and full of
natural and continued vigour； they are all epigram； not only the tail；
but the head； body； and feet。 There is nothing forced； nothing
languishing； but everything keeps the same pace：
〃Contextus totes virilis est； non sunt circa flosculos occupati。〃
＇〃The whole contexture is manly； they don't occupy themselves with
little flowers of rhetoric。〃Seneca； Ep。； 33。＇
'Tis not a soft eloquence； and without offence only； 'tis nervous and
solid； that does not so much please； as it fills and ravishes the
greatest minds。 When I see these brave forms of expression； so lively；
so profound； I do not say that 'tis well said； but well thought。 'Tis
the sprightliness of the imagination that swells and elevates the words：
〃Pectus est quod disertum Tacit。〃
＇〃The heart makes the man eloquent。〃Quintilian； x。 7。＇
Our people call language； judgment； and fine words； full conceptions。
This painting is not so much carried on by dexterity of hand as by having
the object more vividly imprinted in the soul。 Gallus speaks simply
because he conceives simply： Horace does not content himself with a
superficial expression； that would betray him； he sees farther and more
clearly into things； his mind breaks into and rummages all the magazine
of words and figures wherewith to express himself； and he must have them
more than ordinary； because his conception is so。 Plutarch says' that he
sees the Latin tongue by the things： 'tis here the same： the sense
illuminates and produces the words； no more words of air； but of flesh
and bone； they signify more than they say。 Moreover； those who are not
well skilled in a language present some image of this； for in Italy I
said whatever I had a mind to in common discourse； but in more serious
talk； I durst not have trusted myself with an idiom that I could not wind
and turn out of its ordinary pace； I would have a power of introducing
something of my own。
The handling and utterance of fine wits is that which sets off language；
not so much by innovating it； as by putting it to more vigorous and
various services； and by straining； bending； and adapting it to them。
They do not create words； but they enrich their own； and give them weight
and signification by the uses they put them to； and teach them unwonted
motions； but withal ingeniously and discreetly。 And how little this
talent is given to all is manifest by the many French scribblers of this
age： they are bold and proud enough not to follow the common road； but
want of invention and discretion ruins them； there is nothing seen in
their writings but a wretched affectation of a strange new style； with
cold and absurd disguises； which； instead of elevating； depress the
matter： provided they can but trick themselves out with new words； they
care not what they signify； and to bring in a new word by the head and
shoulders； they leave the old one； very often more sinewy and significant
than the other。
There is stuff enough in our language； but there is a defect in cutting
out： for there is nothing that might not be made out of our terms of
hunting and war； which is a fruitful soil to borrow from； and forms of
speaking； like herbs； improve and grow stronger by being transplanted。
I find it sufficiently abundant； but not sufficiently pliable and
vigorous； it commonly quails under a powerful conception； if you would
maintain the dignity of your style； you will often perceive it to flag
and languish under you； and there Latin steps in to its relief； as Greek
does to others。 Of some of these words I have just picked out we do not
so easily discern the energy； by reason that the frequent use of them has
in some sort abased their beauty； and rendered it common； as in our
ordinary language there are many excellent phrases and metaphors to be
met with； of which the beauty is withered by age； and the colour is
sullied by too common handling； but that nothing lessens the relish to an
understanding man； nor does it derogate from the glory of those ancient
authors who； 'tis likely； first brought those words into that lustre。
The sciences treat of things too refinedly； after an artificial； very
dif
